masaya market, volcano masaya and laguna del apoyo in 24 hrs? + others ?

By my recollection, it is dark by about 7 PM. They're right, don't go out after that, just to be safe unless your staying in the square at Granada or something like that, then the immediate area would be safe enough.. I agree with your Rio San Juan choice and I think you'll be fine there. Not too many tourists so they tend to be friendlier. There's also the Solomentami Islands in the lake right there at San Carlos that may be worht a visit. There are accomidations, though I've never been. It was the one thing I missed when I did the river. I would choose this over SJDS any day. If you want to see the Pacific coast, go from Leon, it's really close and you could just go for an afternoon. I went for an early dinner one nite and that was lovely! You can surf or sled down the volcano at Leon too. there's people who will take you for a day trip.

I'm not really good with the north. Drove through and spent some time at Selva Negra, that's it.

As for the rest, it doesn't take too long to acually go throught the tourist market. A few hours top. The volcano, it all depends how much hiking you ant to do. There is a small visitors station with some nice things to look at, a stop along the way at an overlook for the large culdara that was interesting. At the top, you park right next to the volcano and can walk to the other siade to up the hill to the creat of the older part on the left. Make sure you park facing out as they will make you move your car. This is for a quick get away if it starts to blow, I'm not kidding!!!! The cut off for Caterina is between Masaya and Granada. It isn't too far from the turn off. That's the way I always went to see Apoyo, though I never stayed overnite.

The sun rises at 6 am and sets at 6 pm consistently in Nicaragua

Thank you for the reply!

I will be cautious and will make my way to Rio San juan. youpi!
Do you know how long is the drive from masaya to laguna del apoyo?
I read that one should not stay too long at the volcano Masaya because of the toxic emissions....is this true only for when standing at the top? I guess so with all the hikes on offer, do you know?

Masaya town centre to the laguna is 15-20 mins by car. There are two turn-offs, one off the Masaya-Catarina road, and the other from the Managua-Masaya-Granada, about half-way between Masaya and Granada. The first is quicker if you're in centre of Masaya.

There is as sign at the crater edge saying you shouldn't stay there for more than 20 mins, but it all depends on the where the gases are blowing in one particular moment. And believe me, as soon as they are blown in your general direction you wouldn't want to stay there anyway! :-)

It's 5.34 as I'm typing and it's almost completely dark already. Days will be just a little bit longer in February, but we are pretty to close to the equator so the difference is minimal.

Whether it's dangerous after dark depends on where you are. Masaya for instance is really safe around the centre, so is Granada, León, and some parts of Managua. I think the general advice NOT to be out after dark is unncecessary scare-mongering.

And yes, I'd pick Río San Juan over San Juan del Sur any day. SJDS is misseable, absolutely.

And finally, back to yur first question. Yes, you can pack the market, the laguna and the volcano in one eventful day. Start off with the volcano, drop by the market for a few hours and make your way to the laguna. Most places on the laguna face a general western direction, so there will be little direct sunlight in the late afternoon, but it will be warm anyway.
Places to spend the night:

La Abuela has cabins for 60 USD, Iv only seen them from the outside though. And the food is shte, so I'll give that a miss. Beautiful grounds though.

Crater's Edge, run by an American woman, has double rooms for 20 USD. They look nice if a bit cramped. Beautiful grounds too.

Norome, cabins, no idea about prices, top of the range resort in the area. Food okay, nice grounds, small swimming pool (!)

San Simian, cabins for 50/60 USD, the furthest off the main track, beautiful cabins and grounds, no idea about food.

The last 3 all have websites, just google them.

5.47 pm now and pitch-black night outside my window :-)

All the best,
kolpez

Great!
seems that I have all of my questions answered. thanks to you all...